Water ionization system and method

ABSTRACT

A method for producing an ionized water product for coffee comprises the steps of introducing source water to an ionization system, passing the source water through one or more reaction vessels, wherein one or more ionic species are introduced into the source water, and combining products of one or more reaction vessels to produce the ionized water product having between about 10 ppm to about 40 ppm magnesium ions, about 10 ppm to about 40 ppm calcium ions, and about 40 ppm to about 90 ppm total of bicarbonate and carbonate ions.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 62/334,812, filed on May 11, 2016, and entitled“Water Ionization System and Method.” The content of such provisionalapplication is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

In any beverage making process that relies on extraction of flavoringredients (i.e. coffee beans, tea leaves, malt, hops, etc.), the typesand concentrations of ionic species present in water used for extractionimpact the flavor and taste of the water, and the beverage productproduced from the water. A specific example is coffee or espressobrewing where calcium and magnesium ions are used for extractingdesirable compounds from the coffee bean. However, the overall flavor ofthe water and coffee becomes “chalky,” if the calcium and magnesium ionsare present in too high of a concentration.

Similarly, alkalinity is defined as the capacity of an aqueous solutionto neutralize an acid. Many of the extracted ingredients in beveragessuch as coffee and beer brewing are organic acids, and therefore willreact with alkaline species in the water, which may negatively alter theflavor profile. In order to maintain a uniform flavor in these beveragemaking processes, it is useful to control the alkalinity of theingredient water.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments provide a water ionization apparatus comprising aninlet, one or more reaction vessels, one or more valves, and one or moredosing mechanisms.

Some embodiments provide a method for producing an ionized water productcomprising the steps of introducing source water into an ionizationsystem, passing the source water through one or more reaction vessels,introducing one or more ionic species into the source water, andcombining products of one or more reaction vessels to achieve a desiredcomposition of ions in the ionized water product.

Some embodiments provide an ionized water product comprising betweenabout 10 ppm to about 40 ppm magnesium ions, between about 10 ppm toabout 40 ppm calcium ions, and between about 40 ppm to about 90 ppmbicarbonate and/or carbonate ions.

In an exemplary embodiment, a method for producing ionized water productfor coffee comprises the steps of introducing source water to anionization system, passing the source water through one or more reactionvessels, wherein one or more ionic species are introduced into thesource water, and combining products of one or more reaction vessels toproduce the ionized water product having between about 10 ppm to about40 ppm magnesium ions, about 10 ppm to about 40 ppm calcium ions, andabout 40 ppm to about 90 ppm total of bicarbonate and carbonate ions.

In some embodiments, the method further includes the step of passing thesource water through a first valve that directs the source water intofirst and second streams.

In some embodiments, the method further includes the steps of passingthe first stream through a first reaction vessel and passing the secondstream through a second reaction vessel.

In some embodiments, the first reaction vessel comprises a packed bed ofsolid, calcium carbonate configured to dissolve calcium and carbonateions into the source water.

In some embodiments, the second reaction vessel comprises a packed bedof solid magnesium sulfate configured to dissolve magnesium and sulfateions into the source water.

In some embodiments, the method further includes the steps of passing anoutput of the second vessel through a second valve, which directs anoutput of the second vessel to a second valve and directing a firstportion of the output from the second vessel to a third vessel.

In some embodiments, the method further includes the step of directing asecond portion of the output from the second vessel to a first dosingmechanism.

In some embodiments, the output of the second vessel comprises asaturated magnesium sulfate stream and the method further includes thestep of replacing sulfate ions from the saturated magnesium sulfatestream with bicarbonate ions utilizing a strongly basic anion exchangeresin to create a magnesium bicarbonate solution.

In some embodiments, the method further includes the step of directingan output of the third vessel to a second dosing mechanism.

In some embodiments, the method further includes the step of creating afinal ionized water product by combining a first ionized water streamfrom the first vessel, a second ionized water stream from the firstdosing mechanism, and a third ionized water stream from the seconddosing mechanism.

In some embodiments, the first ionized water stream comprises calciumcarbonate solution, the second ionized water stream comprises saturatedmagnesium sulfate solution, and the third ionized water stream comprisesmagnesium biocarbonate solution.

In some embodiments, the first, second, and third ionized water streamsare mixed in a controlled manner by the first and second dosingmechanisms to produce an ionized ingredient water stream.

In some embodiments, the method further includes a controller incommunication with the first and second valves, the first, second, andthird reaction vessels, and the first and second dosing mechanisms tocontrol operation of the first and second valves, the first, second, andthird reaction vessels, and the first and second dosing mechanisms.

In other exemplary embodiments, a method for producing an ionized waterproduct for coffee comprises the steps of introducing source water to anionization system, passing a first portion of the source water through afirst reaction vessel comprising a packed bed of solid calcium carbonateconfigured to dissolve calcium and carbonate ions into the source waterto create a first ionized water stream, passing a second portion of thesource water through a second reaction vessel comprising a packed bed ofsolid magnesium sulfate configured to dissolve magnesium and sulfateions into the source water, separating a saturated magnesium sulfateoutput stream of the second reaction vessel into a first stream that ispassed to a first dosing mechanism that creates a second ionized waterstream and a second stream that is passed to a third reaction vessel,passing second stream through the third reaction vessel, wherein thecontents of the third vessel replace sulfate ions from the saturatedmagnesium sulfate output stream with bicarbonate ions utilizing astrongly basic anion exchange resin to create a magnesium bicarbonatesolution, passing an output of the third vessel to a dosing mechanismthat creates a third ionized water stream, and combining the first,second, and third ionized water streams to produce an ionized ingredientwater stream.

In other exemplary embodiments, a system for producing an ionized waterproduct for coffee comprises a first fluid line carrying source waterfrom a water supply, a first valve configured to split the source waterinto first and second streams, a first reaction vessel receiving thefirst stream, the first reaction vessel comprising a first ionic speciesto be introduced to the first stream, a second reaction vessel receivingthe second stream, the second reaction vessel comprising a second ionicspecies to be introduced to the second stream, and a dosing mechanismreceiving a third stream from the second reaction vessel and configuredto provide a metered amount of fluid from the second reaction vessel,wherein the first and second ionic species are different.

In some embodiments, the system includes a controller for controllingmixing of a first output from the first reaction vessel and a secondoutput from the dosing mechanism.

In some embodiments, the system includes a third reaction vesselreceiving a fourth stream from the second reaction vessel, the thirdreaction vessel comprising a third ionic species to be introduced to thefourth stream and a second dosing mechanism receiving the fourth streamfrom the third reaction vessel and configured to provide a meteredamount of fluid from the third reaction vessel, wherein the controllercontrols mixing of the first output from the first reaction vessel, thesecond output from the dosing mechanism, and a third output from thesecond dosing mechanism and wherein the first, second, and third ionicspecies are different.

In some embodiments, the system includes a second valve configured tosplit an output from the second reaction vessel into the third andfourth streams.

In some embodiments, the first ionic species comprises calciumcarbonate, the second ionic species comprises magnesium sulfate, and thethird ionic species comprises bicarbonate ion.

In some embodiments, the controller is in communication with the firstand second valves, the first and second dosing mechanisms, and thefirst, second, and third reaction vessels to control operation and anoutput of the system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a water ionization system according to oneembodiment; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an example water ionization systemaccording to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction and the arrangement of components set forthin the following description or illustrated in the following drawings.The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orof being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood thatthe phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of“including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein ismeant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereofas well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, theterms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variationsthereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirectmountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected”and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connectionsor couplings.

The following discussion is presented to enable a person skilled in theart to make and use embodiments of the invention. Various modificationsto the illustrated embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilledin the art, and the generic principles herein can be applied to otherembodiments and applications without departing from embodiments of theinvention. Thus, embodiments of the invention are not intended to belimited to embodiments shown, but are to be accorded the widest scopeconsistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. Thefollowing detailed description is to be read with reference to thefigures, in which like elements in different figures have like referencenumerals. The figures, which are not necessarily to scale, depictselected embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope ofembodiments of the invention. Skilled artisans will recognize theexamples provided herein have many useful alternatives and fall withinthe scope of embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a beverage water ionization system 100 designed toproduce water utilized in the production of a beverage for humanconsumption. The water ionization system 100 can include an inlet 102,an outlet 104, one or more reaction vessels 106, one or more valves 108,one or more conduits or fluid lines 110, one or more dosing mechanisms112, and a controller 114.

The inlet 102 is designed to permit source water 120 to enter the waterionization system 100. In some instances, the source water 120 of thepresent system may not be ideal ingredient water for beverage making. Inone embodiment, the source water 120 may be naturally low in hardnessand alkalinity or have been treated such that the hardness level is lessthan or equal to about 40 mg/L and/or the alkalinity level is less thanor equal to about 40 mg/L. The inlet 102 may be connected to a localwater supply such that the source water 120 is provided directly from alocal water utility. The inlet 102 may be any type of pipe, pipefitting,valve, conduit, tap, spigot or other means by which water can beintroduced into the system 100. In some embodiments, the inlet 102 maybe connected to a water filtration system, such that the source water120 is filtered water.

The outlet 104 is designed to permit product water 122 to leave thewater ionization system 100 after it has passed through one or morereaction vessels 106. The outlet 104 may be connected to a distributionhub such that the product water 122 can be used in any number ofapplications. In some embodiments, the outlet 104 is connected to ameans of beverage production or a beverage making process, such asbrewing coffee or espresso. In some embodiments, the outlet 104 may beconnected to a secondary means for further processing of the productwater stream 122. The outlet 104 may be any type of pipe, pipefitting,valve, conduit, tap, spigot or other means by which water can exit thesystem 100.

The water ionization system 100 further includes one or more reactionvessels 106. The reaction vessels 106 are designed to add various ionicspecies to the source water 120. The reaction vessels 106 maybe made ofglass, plastic, metal, rubber, polycarbonate, or combinations thereof.The reaction vessels 106 may include, but are not limited to, ionexchange columns, solid resin beds for dissolution, and/or combinationsthereof. In some embodiments, the reaction vessel 106 contains a solidpacked resin bed containing the chemical of choice to be dissolved inthe source water 120. A variety of chemicals can be used to achieveionization of the source water 120 within the reaction vessels 106,including, but not limited to, calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate,magnesium carbonate, magnesium sulfate, or mixtures there of.

In one embodiment, the reaction vessel 106 includes an ion exchangeresin provided in an ion exchange column that is a strongly or weaklybasic anion exchange resin for the introduction of alkaline species intothe source water 120. In some embodiments of the reaction vessel 106,the ion exchange resin is a strongly or weakly acidic cation resin forthe introduction of mineral species into the source water 120. In someembodiments, the reaction vessel 106 may contain a mixed resin bed forboth anion and cation exchange. The ion exchange resin may be any knownporous insoluble matrix known in the art, including but not limited tosilica and organic polymers, such as polystyrene. The ion exchange resinmay be charged with a variety of known ionic species in an aqueous statesuitable for ionic exchange within the reaction vessel 106.

It is envisioned that the system may have any number of reaction vessels106 in many different combinations. The reaction vessels 106 may beconnected in series, or the reaction vessels 106 may be connected in abranched configuration as part of divergent flow paths within thesystem, such that source water is separately treated in differentreaction vessels 106 before being recombined using a dosing mechanism112 or other mixing mechanism.

In one embodiment, the water ionization system 100 may be containedwithin one housing body or cover (not shown). In another embodiment, thewater ionization system 100 may contain separate housing bodies for eachreaction vessel 106. In another embodiment, multiple reaction vessels106 of the system 100 may be housed together in one housing body orcontainment system while other reaction vessels are housed separately.

The flow path of the source water 120 through the reaction vessels 106is directed by one or more valves 108. The valves 108 may include, butare not limited to, flow control valves, fixed orifices, venture meters,metering pumps, and micro-dosers.

Fluid lines 110 connect the inlet 102 with the valves 108 and thereaction vessels 106. The fluid lines may include, but are not limitedto, tubes, pipes, conduits, and/or any other structure(s) to convey afluid. The fluid lines 110 also connect the reaction vessels 106 withthe dosing mechanisms 112 and outlet 104.

The water ionization system 100 further includes one or more dosingmechanisms 112. The dosing mechanisms 112 are designed to blend togetherthe product streams from the reaction vessels 106 to achieve the properionic ratios in the product water 122. The dosing mechanisms 112 mayinclude, but are not limited to, flow control valves, blend valves,fixed orifices, venture meters, metering pumps, piston valves andmicro-dosers. In some embodiments, the doser described in U.S. PatentApplication No. 62/186,265, filed on Jun. 29, 2015, and incorporated byreference in its entirety, may be used.

The dosing mechanisms 112 can be controlled manually or automatically toachieve a desired composition of ions in the product water 122. In oneembodiment, the dosing mechanism 112 is manually adjusted at systeminstallation for the desired blending of ionized water streams from eachreaction vessel 106. In another embodiment, the dosing mechanism 112 iscontrolled by a controller 114, such that the desired composition ofions in the product water 122 can be adjusted. In another embodiment,the system 100 is equipped with sensors (not shown) to automaticallyadjust the dosing mechanisms 112 to achieve the desired composition ofions in the product water 122.

In one embodiment, the water ionization system 100 is in communicationwith and controlled by a controller 114, which may be housed with orindependently from the ionization system 100. The controller 114 may bea microprocessor in communication with a computer by which the flow ofthe source water 120 through the system 100 may be controlled. Thecontroller 114 may be in communication with one or more valves 108,reaction vessels 106, and/or dosing mechanisms 112 to control andmonitor each stage of the water ionization system 100. The controllermay also regulate the properties of the product water 122 by controllingthe input of each dosing mechanisms 112.

The following example illustrates use of the water ionization system 100as described above.

Example No. 1

An example system is depicted in FIG. 2. A water ionization system 200is made up of three distinct chemical reactions to ionize source water260 for use in beverage making. In one embodiment, this example is foruse in the preparation of water for coffee brewing.

An inlet 202 is designed to permit source water 260 to enter the waterionization system 200. A fluid line 204 carries the source water 260 toa first valve 206 that is designed to distribute the source water 260 toa first reaction vessel 208 and a second reaction vessel 216 through afluid lines 211 and 214, respectively.

The source water 260 enters the first reaction vessel 208 after beingdirected through the first valve 206. In this example, the firstreaction vessel 208 is provided as a solid bed of calcium carbonate(CaCO₃) 210. The first reaction vessel 208 is designed for the ionicspecies calcium, Ca²⁺, and carbonate, CO₃ ²⁻, to be dissolved into thesource water 260 from the solid bed of calcium carbonate 210. Thecalcium carbonate saturated source water leaves the first reactionvessel 208 through a fluid line 212.

The source water 260 enters the second reaction vessel 216 from thefluid line 214 after being directed through the first valve 206. In thisexample, the second reaction vessel 216 is provided as a solid bed ofmagnesium sulfate 218. The second reaction vessel 216 is designed forthe ionic species magnesium, Mg²⁺, and sulfate, SO₄ ²⁻, to be dissolvedinto the source water 260 from the solid bed of magnesium sulfate(MgSO₄) 218. The magnesium sulfate saturate source water leaves thesecond reaction vessel 216 through a fluid line 220 to be distributedthrough a second valve 222. A portion of the ionized source water isdistributed through the second valve 222 to a fluid line 224 and a firstdosing mechanism 226. Additionally, a portion of the ionized sourcewater can be distributed through the second valve 222 to a thirdreaction vessel 230 through a fluid line 228.

The saturated magnesium sulfate stream enters the third reaction vessel230 from the fluid line 228 after being directed through the secondvalve 222. In this example, the third reaction vessel 230 is provided asa strongly basic anion (SBA) exchange resin 232 preloaded withbicarbonate ion, HCO₃ ⁻. The third reaction vessel 230 is designed as anion exchange column such that sulfate ions, SO₄ ²⁻, will exchange withbicarbonate ions, HCO₃ ⁻. The product stream from the third reactionvessel 230, containing bicarbonate and magnesium ions, passes through afluid line 234 to a second dosing mechanism 236.

The products of the third reaction vessel 230, containing bicarbonateand magnesium, and the second reaction vessel 216, containing magnesiumsulfate, are mixed with the calcium carbonate saturated product of thefirst reaction vessel 208. The ionized water stream from the thirdreaction vessel 230 passes through the second dosing mechanism 236,while the ionized water stream from the second reaction vessel 216passes through the first dosing mechanism 226.

The final ionized water product 262 leaves the system 200 through anoutlet 240. The system 200 is designed to produce an ionized waterproduct to be used as ingredient water for the brewing of coffee andespresso. It is also envisioned that other embodiments of this examplecan be configured to produce an ionized water product to be used asingredient water for other beverage applications.

In a method for producing ionized water for beverage production, sourcewater 260 is passed through three separate reaction vessels 208, 216,and 230 to introduce various dissolved ionic species into the sourcewater 260. The source water 260 is introduced into the system 200through the inlet 202. The flow path of the source water 260 is directedby the first valve 206 into two streams; a first stream to the firstreaction vessel 208 and a second stream through the fluid line 214 tothe second reaction vessel 216.

A saturated calcium carbonate solution is created by passing a waterstream over a packed resin bed. In the first reaction vessel 208, thefirst stream of source water 260 is passed through a packed bed of solidcalcium carbonate 210 to dissolve calcium (Ca²⁺) and carbonate (CO₃ ²⁻)ions into the source water 260. The calcium carbonate saturated solutionexits the first reaction vessel 208 through the fluid line 212.

A saturated magnesium sulfate solution is created by passing a waterstream over a packed resin bed. In the second reaction vessel 216, thesecond stream source water 260 is passed through a packed bed of solidmagnesium sulfate 218 to dissolve magnesium (Mg²⁺) and sulfate (SO₄ ²⁻)ions into the source water 260. The magnesium sulfate saturated solutionexits the second reaction vessel 216 through the fluid line 212. Abranched flow path is controlled by the second valve 222, which directsthe magnesium sulfate saturated solution to the first dosing mechanism226 or into a third stream to the third reaction vessel 230 through thefluid line 228.

A magnesium bicarbonate solution is created by an ion exchange reactionin which the sulfate ions from the saturated magnesium sulfate streamare replaced with bicarbonate ions. In the third ion exchange reactionvessel 230, the sulfate ions of the third stream are exchanged forbiocarbonate ions (HCO₃ ⁻) by the strongly basic anion exchange resin232. The resulting magnesium biocarbonate ionized water stream exits thethird ion exchange reaction vessel 230 by the fluid line 234 to thesecond dosing mechanism 236.

A final ionized water product 262 is created by combining the saturatedcalcium carbonate, magnesium sulfate, and magnesium bicarbonatesolutions by mixing with one or more dosing mechanisms. The first,second, and third ionized water streams from the reaction vessels 208,216, and 230 are mixed in a controlled manner by the dosing mechanisms226 and 236 to produce an ionized ingredient water stream with a desiredcomposition of ions. The desired composition of ions can be controlledby the mixing various ratios of the products from the three reactionvessels, and may optionally be controlled by the controller 250. Thedesired composition of ions will vary based on the desired beverageapplication for which the ionized water product is used.

A liquid produced by the system described herein will have properties inaccordance with the desired composition of ions in water for thebeverage application in which it is used. The properties of the ionizedproduct water 122 are determined by the particular composition of thereaction vessels 106 of the system 100 and subsequent mixing via thedosing mechanisms 112. Different beverage chemistry applications utilizedifferent water compositions, which can be achieved by variouscombinations of reaction vessels 106 and dosing mechanism configurationsof the system and may be controlled by the controller 114. The followingembodiments demonstrate various ion concentrations in various beveragechemistry applications.

The range of magnesium ion (Mg²⁺) concentrations in various beveragechemistry applications may be between about 0 ppm to about 300 parts permillion (ppm). In one embodiment, the magnesium ion concentration in anionized water product may be between about 0 ppm to about 60 ppm. Inanother embodiment, the magnesium ion concentration in the ionized waterproduct may be between about 10 ppm to about 40 ppm.

The range of calcium ion (Ca²⁺) concentrations in various beveragechemistry applications may be between about 0 ppm to about 300 ppm. Inone embodiment, the calcium ion concentration in the ionized waterproduct may be between about 0 ppm to about 60 ppm. In anotherembodiment, the calcium ion concentration in the ionized water productmay be between about 10 ppm to about 40 ppm.

The range of bicarbonate (HCO₃ ⁻) and carbonate (CO₃ ²⁻) ionconcentrations in various beverage chemistry applications may be betweenabout 0 ppm to about 300 ppm. In one embodiment, the bicarbonate andcarbonate ion concentration in the ionized water product may be betweenabout 50 ppm to about 100 ppm. In another embodiment, the bicarbonateand carbonate ion concentration in the ionized water product may bebetween about 40 ppm to about 90 ppm.

The range of sulfate ion (SO₄ ²⁻) concentrations in various beveragechemistry applications may be between about 0 ppm to about 300 ppm.

In one specific example, a beverage concentration for water used incoffee beverages may include a magnesium ion concentration between about10 ppm to about 40 ppm, a calcium ion concentration between about 10 ppmto about 40 ppm, and a bicarbonate and carbonate ion concentrationbetween about 40 ppm to about 90 ppm.

The ionized water product produced by the system described herein willhave applications including ingredient water for brewing coffee,espresso, beer, tea, and other beverage making applications includingbut not limited to soda, juice, energy drinks, or bottled water.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that while theinvention has been described above in connection with particularembodiments and examples, the invention is not necessarily so limited,and that numerous other embodiments, examples, uses, modifications anddepartures from the embodiments, examples and uses are intended to beencompassed by the claims attached hereto. The entire disclosure of eachpatent and publication cited herein is incorporated by reference, as ifeach such patent or publication were individually incorporated byreference herein. Various features and advantages of the invention areset forth in the following claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for producing an ionized waterproduct for coffee, the method comprising: introducing source water toan ionization system; passing the source water through a first valvethat directs the source water into first and second streams; passing thefirst stream through a first reaction vessel; passing the second streamthrough a second reaction vessel; passing an output of the secondreaction vessel through a second valve, which directs the output of thesecond vessel into a first portion and a second portion; directing thefirst portion of the output from the second reaction vessel to a thirdreaction vessel; directing the second portion of the output from thesecond reaction vessel to a first dosing mechanism that regulates theflow of the second portion; directing an output of the third reactionvessel to a second dosing mechanism that regulates a flow of the outputof the third reaction vessel; creating the ionized water product bycombining a first ionized water stream from the first reaction vessel, asecond ionized water stream from the first dosing mechanism, and a thirdionized water stream from a second dosing mechanism via a controllerconfigured to automatically adjust ratios of the products to produce theionized water product having between about 10 ppm to about 40 ppmmagnesium ions, about 10 ppm to about 40 ppm calcium ions, and about 40ppm to about 90 ppm total of bicarbonate and carbonate ions; and makingcoffee with the ionized water.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein thefirst reaction vessel comprises a packed bed of solid calcium carbonateto dissolve calcium and carbonate ions into the source water.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the second reaction vessel comprises a packedbed of solid magnesium sulfate to dissolve magnesium and sulfate ionsinto the source water.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the output ofthe second reaction vessel comprises a saturated magnesium sulfatestream and the method further comprises replacing sulfate ions from thesaturated magnesium sulfate stream with bicarbonate ions utilizing astrongly basic anion exchange resin to create a magnesium bicarbonatesolution.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first ionized waterstream comprises calcium carbonate solution, the second ionized waterstream comprises saturated magnesium sulfate solution, and the thirdionized water stream comprises magnesium bicarbonate solution.
 6. Themethod of claim 5, wherein the first, second, and third ionized waterstreams are mixed in a controlled manner by the first and second dosingmechanisms to produce an ionized ingredient water stream.
 7. The methodof claim 6, wherein the controller is in communication with the firstand second valves, the first, second, and third reaction vessels, andthe first and second dosing mechanisms to control operation of the firstand second valves, the first, second, and third reaction vessels, andthe first and second dosing mechanisms.
 8. A method for producing anionized water product for coffee, comprising the steps of: introducingsource water into an ionization system; passing the source water througha first valve that directs the source water into first and secondstreams; passing the first stream through a first reaction vesselcomprising a packed bed of solid calcium carbonate configured todissolve calcium and carbonate ions into the source water to create afirst ionized water stream; passing the second stream through a secondreaction vessel comprising a packed bed of solid magnesium sulfateconfigured to dissolve magnesium and sulfate ions into the source water;passing a saturated magnesium sulfate output stream of the secondreaction vessel through a second valve, which directs the output of thesecond vessel into a first portion and a second portion; directing thefirst portion of the output from the second reaction vessel to a thirdreaction vessel, wherein the contents of the third vessel replacesulfate ions from the saturated magnesium sulfate output stream withbicarbonate ions utilizing a strongly basic anion exchange resin tocreate a magnesium bicarbonate solution; directing the second portion ofthe output from the second reaction vessel to a first dosing mechanismthat regulates a flow of the second portion; passing an output of thethird vessel to a second dosing mechanism that regulates a flow of theoutput of the third reaction vessel; creating the ionized water productby combining the first ionized water stream from the first reactionvessel, the second ionized water stream from the first dosing mechanism,and the third ionized water stream From the second dosing mechanism toproduce an ionized ingredient water stream having between about 10 ppmto about 40 ppm magnesium ions, about 10 ppm to about 40 ppm calciumions, and about 40 ppm to about 90 ppm total bicarbonate and carbonateions; making coffee with the ionized water.
 9. A method for producing anionized water product for coffee, the method comprising: introducingsource water to an ionization system; passing the source water throughone or more reaction vessels, wherein one or more ionic species areintroduced into the source water, including passing the source waterthrough a first valve that directs the source water into first andsecond streams, passing the first stream through a first reaction vesselof the one or more reaction vessels, passing the second stream through asecond reaction vessel of the one or more reaction vessels; passing anoutput of the second reaction vessel through a second valve, whichdirects the output of the second reaction vessel into a first portionand a second portion, directing the first portion of the output from thesecond reaction vessel to a third reaction vessel, directing the secondportion of the output from the second reaction vessel to a first dosingmechanism that regulates a flow of the second portion, and directing anoutput of the third reaction vessel to a second dosing mechanism thatregulates the flow of the output of the third reaction vessel; combiningproducts of the reaction vessels via a controller configured toautomatically adjust ratios of the products to produce the ionized waterproduct having between about 10 ppm to about 40 ppm magnesium ions,about 10 ppm to about 40 ppm calcium ions, and about 40 ppm to about 90ppm total of bicarbonate and carbonate ions, including, combining afirst ionized water stream from the First reaction vessel, a secondionized water stream from the first dosing mechanism, and a thirdionized water stream from the second dosing mechanism; and making coffeewith the ionized water.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the firstionized water stream comprises calcium carbonate solution, the secondionized water stream comprises saturated magnesium sulfate solution, andthe third ionized water stream comprises bicarbonate solution.
 11. Themethod of claim 9, wherein the first, second, and third ionized waterstreams are mixed in a controlled manner by the first and second dosingmechanisms to produce an ionized ingredient water stream.
 12. The methodof claim 9, wherein the controller is in communication with the firstand second valves, the first, second, and third reaction vessels, andthe first and second dosing mechanisms to control operation of the firstand second valves, the first, second, and third reaction vessels, andthe first and second dosing mechanisms.
 13. The method of claim 9,wherein the source water has an alkalinity level less than or equal toabout 40 mg/L.
 14. The method of claim 9, wherein the steps of passingthe source water through a first valve that directs the source waterinto first and second stream, passing the first stream through a firstreaction vessel, passing the second stream through a second reactionvessel, passing an output of the second reaction vessel through a secondvalve which directs the output of the second vessel into a first portionand a second portion, and directing the first portion of the output fromthe second reaction vessel to a third reaction vessel each occur withinon housing body.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the third reactionvessel comprises a strongly basic anion (SBA) exchange resin preloadedwith bicarbonate ion.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlleris operatively coupled with at least one sensor to automatically adjustthe first and second dosing mechanisms.
 17. The method of claim 1,wherein the source water has an alkalinity level less than or equal toabout 40 mg/L.
 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the first, second andthird reaction vessels each comprise an ion exchange resin that is astrongly or weakly basic anion exchange resin for the introduction ofalkaline species into the source water.
 19. The method of claim 1,wherein the steps of passing the source water through a first valve thatdirects the source water into first and second stream, passing the firststream through a first reaction vessel, passing the second streamthrough a second reaction vessel, passing an output of the secondreaction vessel through a second valve which directs the output of thesecond vessel into a first portion and a second portion, and directingthe first portion of the output from the second reaction vessel to athird reaction vessel each occur within on housing body.
 20. The methodof claim 8, wherein the step of creating the ionized water product bycombining the first ionized water stream from the first reaction vessel,the second ionized water stream from the first dosing mechanism, and thethird ionized water stream from the second dosing mechanism to producean ionized ingredient water stream having between about 10 ppm to about40 ppm magnesium ions, about 10 ppm to about 40 ppm calcium ions, andabout 40 ppm to about 90 ppm total bicarbonate and carbonate ionscomprises creating the ionized water product by combining the firstionized water stream from the first reaction vessel, the second ionizedwater stream from the first dosing mechanism, and the third ionizedwater stream from the second dosing mechanism via a controller toproduce the ionized ingredient water stream.